Valve operator



T. F. DOUGHERTY, JR

VALVE OPERATOR Filed Sept 22, 192l 2 Sheets-Sheet l am: up,

3 am. i20f'19 25'. 523,752;

T. F. DOUGHERTY, JR

VALVE OPERATOR Filed Sept. 22, 192l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmv u @va mum Patented Jan. 20, 1925 THOMAS FISHER DOUGI-IERTY. JR.

, 0F ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY.

VALVE OPERATOR.

Application filed September 22, 1921. Serial No. 502,556.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. Douoiinn'rv. J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic City, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Valve Operator, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention aims to provide novel means for operating a valve from a remote point, the structure being of peculiar utility when employed in connection with a domestic water heater, although the device is by no means confined to that end.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains'.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a diagrai'n showing the invention and one application thereof; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section showing the casing and attendant parts, sundry elements appearing in elevation; Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Although the device forming the subject matter of this application may be used in various Ways, let it be supposed that it is to be employed in connection with an ordinary domestic water tank 1 having a water outlet 2 and provided with a water supply pipe 3 passing through a heater 4, the fuel supply pipe for the heater 4 being denoted by the numeral 5. A. coupling 6 is interposed in the r'ucl supply pipe and is equipped with a seat. 7. The coupling 6 and the pipe 5 may be alluded to as a fuel supply conduit. A valve 8 is slidable with respect to the seat 7. A pilot tube 9 is connected at one end with the coupling 6, the other end of the pilot tube cooperating in the usual'way with the heater 4. The valve 8 is interposed between the intake end of the pilot tube 9 and the burner 4.

The numeral 10 designates a casing which is a compositestructure. The casing 10 em bodies a tubular guide 11 mounted at one end in the coupling 6, the casing including, further, an enlarged head 12 carried by the upper end of the guide 11 and provided with a removable closure 14, giving access to the working parts of the device, and held in place by securing elements 15.

The casing 11 is surrounded by a core 31 carrying a first solenoid magnet 16 and a second solenoid magnet 17. An operating member 18 in the form of a plunger, is mounted for reciprocation in the casing 10. the lower end of the part 18 being connected to the valve 8. An armature 19 is mounted on the plunger 18 and is responsive to the solenoid magnet 16. An armature 20 is mounted on the plunger 18 and is responsive to the solenoid magnet 17. The armatures 19 and 20 are slidable within the tubular guide 11. The numeral 21 designates a bowed spring. The bowed spring 21 is disposed in the head 12 of the casing 10 and is pivoted at its ends, as shown at 22, to the side portions of the head 12. The

. intermediate portion of the bowed spring 21 is secured at 23 to the upper end of the plunger 18.

he winding of the solenoid magnet 16 is continued to form a circuit 24, wherein a source of electrical energy 25 is disposed. A switch 26, which may be a button, is in- ,terposed in the circuit 24, and may be carried by a plate 27, located at any desired distance from the heater 4 and attendant parts. The winding of the solenoid magnet 17 is continued to form a circuit 28, which may pass through a junction box 29 carried by the guide 11. A switch 30, such as a push button on the plate 27 is interposed in the circuit. 28 and a source of electrical energy indicated at 31 is interposed likewise in the said circuit. The specific wiring arrangement above alluded to may be varied at will, and there may be as many of the switches 30 and 26 as is considered expedient. or necessary.

In practical operation when the button 26 is pressed, the circuit 24 is closed and the solenoid 16 is energized. The armature 19 responds to the action of the solenoid 16, raising the plunger 18 and moving the gate/8 to an open position. When the plunger 18 moves from upwardly, the

spring 21 flexes from the solid line osition of Figure 2 to the dotted line position of that figure, and holds the plunger 18 elevated, the gate 8 then being in an open position. the pipe 5 and is lighted, in the heater 4, from the pilot tube 9. The heater raises the temperature of the water in the boiler 1 and the water flows away through the outlet 2. t

lVhen' it is desired to stop the action of the heater 4, the button is pressed, thereby closing the circuit 28, the buttons 30 and 26, preferably, acting as switches, only so long as they are under pressure. lVhen the circuit 28 is closed, the solenoid magnet 17 is energized, the armature 20 is acted upon, the plunger 18 is drawn downwardly, the gate 8 is moved to a closed position, and the spring 21 flexed downwardly into the position shown in solid line in Figure 2, so as to hold the gate 8 closed. The supply of fuel through the pipe 5 now is cut off, and the action of the heater 4 ceases.

Itvwill be obvious that, if desired, the pilot tube 9 may be omitted, the device shown in Figure 2 being employed as a valve operator, adapted to be interposed in a conduit of any sort, represented by the pipe 5.

The gas or other fuel traverses What is claimed is In a device of the class described, a coupling having a valve seat, a tubular casing connected at one end to the coupling, a head carried by the opposite end of the casing and of greater diameter than the casing, a plunger within the casing, an armature on the plunger and slidable in the casing, a valve carried by the plunger and cooperating with the seat,'a solenoid coil whereunto the armature is responsive,

the coil being disposed about the casing, a bowed spring in the head, means for connecting the ends of the spring to the head, and means for connecting the intermediate portion of the spring to the plunger, the head being of greater diameter than the magnet to overhang the magnet and protect it, and to permit the spring to be of such length that it will be readily responsive to the magnet to hold the valve at the limits of its travel in opposite directions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afl'ixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS FISHER DOUGHERTY, Jn. 

